(Opposites Attract) Low Fat Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage Pasta

I love my husband with all my heart. Really, I do – he’s my everything. But sometimes I just don’t know how we end up with each other. Sure, on a lot of things, we’re exactly the same. However, on just as many things, we’re polar opposites. Maybe that’s why it works? Who knows 😉

Our differences were brought to the (kitchen) table last night as I was cooking dinner.

I actually had some time to get creative in the kitchen for dinner, and since I haven’t meal planned for a few weeks now, I’ve been flying by the seat of my pants (which is fuunnnn!) I took a look and the fridge and pantry to see what I had to work with. Here’s what:

Plus some fresh herbs from outside.

Side note: one of my favorite things ever is buying frozen, bagged organic veggies. I like to have 2 or 3 bags on hand to choose from.

It’s great because they never spoil in the freezer! Now that I’m a part of a CSA, I’m in a hurry to try and use up those veggies already, so I haven’t spent much more additional money on other fresh veggies from the store. Frozen vegetables are just so handy and convenient!

My first idea was to make a casserole. But as I went to preheat my oven, I thought about how hard our air conditioning was working as is, to keep the 90+ degree heat outside from raising our inside temp of a balmy 76 degrees. Then I changed my mind and decided I’d cook the entire meal on the stove.

I started by making the sauce, and added the tomatoes, sausages, and herbs. I absolutely love one-dish meals. They’re so easy to make and very little dishes get dirtied. Unfortunately, Shane prefers the exact opposite – he doesn’t even like his food to touch. So I improvised.

Steamer basket to the rescue! While the sauce was simmering, the broccoli and bok choy stems and leaves were cooking.

Then, when it came time to eat, I plopped the steamed veggies into my dish, and Shane ate his on the side. Win-win!

Low Fat Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage PastaTime: 30 minutesServes: 4Can be made the better way, with the vegetables all included, or the lesser way, with them on the side

Turn on the stove to medium heat and heat the olive oil in a deep pot. Add the onion and garlic and cook for a few minutes, until softened. Add the sausage and cook until it’s heated through. Next, add the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil, and then turn to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, place a steamer basket over the pot and place any additional vegetables to cook while the sauce is simmering. Finally, cook the pasta as directed. Pour the sauce over the cooked pasta, and topped with parmesan cheese, if desired.

Sooo tasty. Plus, it filled me up! I was even too full for dessert, which is crazytown around these parts.

Today

This morning I’m planning on taking Niko for a nice, long walk. Yesterday I went to an RPM (spin) class for the first time in a looooong time, and it kicked. my. bootay. It made my heart rate sky rocket and my shirt look like I’d just taken a shower. It was all things wonderful. I also got in a nice back workout.

So, today I’m taking it easy with a walk. Giving my body some time to reap the benefits of yesterday’s workout.

Have a great day

Do you avoid turning on the stove at all costs during the summer?

Are you and your significant other a lot different from each other? Or polar opposites?

Shane and I share the same sense of humor, opinion on what entails a good time, and no nonsense approach to BS. We also…both love each other? That’s it. OK, I kid, I kid. But we really are fairly different when it comes to interests!

Comments

I definitely try to avoid the stove by grilling in the summer. Well, James grills James and I are definitely polar opposites in our personalities (me = laid back, outgoing and James = high strung and more reserved), which I think balances us out perfectly! However, all of our interests (sports, working out, traveling, etc) are the same, so I think we are alike where it matters

I live with 3 meat eaters and I am the lone woman out as a vegetarian…so, cooking is all about making things work for our different eating styles. Also, my oldest just got to the point where he would adventure into the vegetable world. As for the oven, I try not to turn it on too much during the heat of the summer, but I’m really on a chickpea flatbread kick right now so I’ve been turning the oven on a little more than I should.

Some days, yes, but we do not have too many days that it gets that hot out. But we tend to use the BBQ a lot in the summer.
Since I am total type A person, we are opposites there, but husband does not plan ahead or write lists where as I always do both those things. But he helps me to be more spontaneous and I keep him organized 😉

My boyfriend and I are very similar in some ways, but VERY different in others. We both have similar morals, lifestyles, and beliefs. But he is much more of an extrovert. Everywhere we go he makes friends and is the life of the party. I’m much more reserved and introspective. I think that’s how we work – the balance is key! The recipe looks delish btw!

It’s so cute how you accommodate your man in the kitchen my mom does the same for my dad!! She makes black beans for her and I, and then also some brown rice for him, and mixes the beans into the rice and drizzles ranch dressing on top to hide their taste 😛 she and I just eat the beans with pico de gallo! She also has been known to mix black beans into his mashed potatoes so he won’t taste them.

I just started taking spin with an instructor that uses RPM. I’d never had that before so it’s been quite a butt kicking change.

RPM classes are a booty kicker. BUTT.. so worth it, right? hehe. Love my chicken sausage obsession these days too. I tend to use the stove and grill but never the oven during the summer. thats just death!

My BF and I were just talking about this! We are alike in sports interests and sense of humor but he is a little more impatient and gets fired up easily, where as I’m calm am easy going and it takes a lot to get me fired up! We decided we compliment each other so I’m sure you and Shane do as well!

I definitely agree that opposites attract. I actually dated my friends brother, but we were TOO much alike that I felt like we couldn’t get intimate, if you know what I mean. It just felt more like we could be good friends. Its definitely true, my dad and his GF are total opposites and same with my mom and my step-dad. The chicken sausage pasta looks great!

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What’s one thing you’d change about your body? I help women change their bodies, and more importantly, change the way they think about their bodies. I'm Paige, a fitness expert who can't help but share my passion for helping women eat, move, and live in a way that makes them happy. Here you'll find workouts, recipes, fitness tips, and inspiration that's all about empowerment and enrichment. I hope you leave here each day informed and inspired :)